Cantica Gaudia

Ordinary Time, Late Summer: Wednesday Compline

Confession: Together in worship, we face what we might not face alone
--that we are greedy, but refuse to love our bodies
--that we are selfish, but refuse to love ourselves
--that we are lazy, but refuse to work for peace
--that we are human, but refuse to love the earth. 
These we share in silence as we remember our own faults and failings.

God of the turning tide,
Change us so that the energy of your forgiveness flows into bold and joyful action,
Into a humility that is not defeatism
Into the strength and confidence to be vulnerable.

Canticle: If you accept my words and treasure my commandments,
And make your ear attentive to wisdom;

If you incline your heart to truth,
And you indeed cry out for insight,
Raising your voice for understanding

If you seek wisdom like silver,
And search for it as for hidden treasures,

Then  you will understand the fear of the Holy One
And find the knowledge of God.

For God gives wisdom,
And from God’s mouth come knowledge and discernment.

Reading: Don’t let me fall
As a stone falls upon the hard ground
And don’t let my hands become dry
As the twigs of a tree
When the wind beats down the last leaves.
And when the storm raises dust from the earth
With anger and howling,
Don’t let me become the last fly
Trembling terrified on a windowpane.
Don’t let me fall.
I have asked for so much,
But as a blade of your grass in a distant wild field
Lets drop a seed in the lap of the earth
And dies away,
Sow in me your living breath,
As you sow a seed in the earth.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done
On earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
As we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
And deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
Now and for ever.  Amen.

Prayer: From fear of staying still, O God deliver me.
From fear of surrender, O God deliver me.
From fear of decision, O God deliver me.
From fear of losing respect, O God deliver me.
From fear of facing my fear, O God deliver me.
But from the fear that marks your presence,
I beseech you O God, do not deliver me. Amen.

Going forth: God bless us and keep us, God's face shine on us and be gracious to us, and give us light and peace. Amen.